Charles Eugene "Bud" McCurdy

Charles Eugene McCurdy, affectionately known as “Bud” throughout his life, passed away peacefully on April 24, 2025, at the age of 92.

Bud was born on February 18, 1933, in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, and grew up in nearby Conshohocken. As a boy, Bud enjoyed playing with his many childhood friends along the Schuylkill River and learning to swim in the local quarries. On December 7, 1941 — the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor — Bud, just eight years old, got his first job selling the special edition paper, beginning a lifelong legacy of hard work, commitment, and service to others. In addition to his paper route and other jobs, he became a lifeguard at the local YMCA.

Bud was an active athlete throughout his life. In his youth, he was an avid basketball player in church leagues, the Jaycees, and the YMCA. From his days as a lifeguard, Bud became a dedicated swimmer, routinely swimming a mile as his daily exercise. He continued distance swimming well into his eighties.

Bud earned a scholarship to Ursinus College, where he studied chemistry and played basketball for the Ursinus Bears while continuing to hold down jobs as a steelworker and later as a chemist. While at Ursinus, he met Jeanne Marie McIlhenny of Mt. Airy, Pennsylvania, who became “the love of his life,” as he warmly professed into his final days. They married on November 26, 1954, and together built a life rooted in love, faith, and family. They welcomed four children: Lynne Louise (McCurdy) O’Connor, John Charles McCurdy, David Paul McCurdy, and Anne Elizabeth McCurdy.

Through a connection from Jeanne’s house mother at Ursinus, Bud got a job at DuPont, where, upon graduation, he began his career as a research chemist at DuPont's Seaford, Delaware plant. There, he was instrumental in some of the company’s most important innovations in nylon manufacturing, which became industry standards worldwide.

Over the course of a distinguished career, Bud rose through the ranks at DuPont, serving in R&D, manufacturing, and various supervisory and business management roles, culminating in his role as a Vice President at DuPont headquarters in Wilmington. Even after retirement, he traveled the world as a consultant, sharing his wisdom, technical expertise, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

He considered his greatest professional achievements not to be his own success, but in helping others realize their full potential and achieve things they never imagined possible for themselves. His utmost pride was in seeing those he once mentored surpass him.

Faith was a cornerstone of Bud’s life. Wherever he and Jeanne moved — from Delaware to Tennessee to Pennsylvania — Bud became an active member of the Episcopal Church community. He often served on the vestry and was a regular presenter of Scripture and lessons during services. His faith, quiet leadership, and warmth touched many lives both inside and outside the church.

Outside of work and faith, Bud’s life was rich with music and tradition. As a young man, he learned to play the ocarina and the accordion and spent many Saturday nights making music with his father and uncles. Later in life, Bud took up the guitar, "playing for his own amazement," as he'd say, and passed his love of playing music down to his children and grandchildren. Early summer vacations at “The Point” (Cape May Point, New Jersey) — a cherished family retreat for generations — typically included a bonfire on the beach, with singalongs led by Bud on his guitar. In later years, family dinners would end in singing around the table, with a grandchild or two on his lap teaching songs from his childhood to the next generation.

Bud was a master storyteller, blending humor, wisdom, and imagination. He loved recounting tales from his youth — from building a paper route empire, to picking dandelion greens for dinner, to childhood pranks like “tipping” and “sink or swim” swimming lessons in the Schuylkill River. Every so often, stories delivered with seriousness and detail drew listeners in — until he surprised them with a punchline that revealed its complete fiction. One of his favorite games was Trivial Pursuit, in which he'd fabricate absurd questions and answers with straight-faced delivery.

Beneath the humor, Bud was a man of deep principles. Raised in a diverse Philadelphia neighborhood, he taught his children and grandchildren the importance of respect, kindness, treating others with dignity, and valuing all people — along with lessons in the importance of hard work, perseverance, and doing the right thing. He called on all his progeny to live honorably, serve others, and serve God, emulating the life model given to us in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Through it all, he grew to be a central figure and powerful influence in the lives of his eight grandsons and will forever remain a most revered role model and guiding beacon in all their lives.

Bud is predeceased by his son, John Charles McCurdy; his older brother, Alexander "Lex" McCurdy; and his nephew, Brett McCurdy, son of his brother David.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Jeanne; children: Lynne (Kennett Square, PA), David (Encinitas, CA), and Anne (Pottstown, PA); his younger brother, David McCurdy, and sister-in-law, Barbara, of Ormond Beach, Florida; his eight grandsons; three great-granddaughters; one great-grandson; and his many nieces and nephews who loved him dearly as "Uncle Buddy."

Bud's loss will be deeply felt, but his love, laughter, and legacy will live on in the countless lives he touched, inspired, and guided.

A memorial service will be held at Willowdale Chapel in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, on Monday, May 5th. Visitation will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., followed by a service from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Willowdale Chapel Care Fund at Willowdale Chapel, Kennett Square, PA. Arrangements by Kuzo Funeral Home of Kennett Square, PA.